Bellringer:

1. Bellringer: • What were the five main factors pushing Europe into an Age of Exploration?

2. Answer to bellringer: • There were five main factors pushing Europe into an Age of Exploration • Renaissance—General curiosity about Asia; • Desire for wealth; • Reformation—Desire to spread Christianity; • Adventure and glory; • Technological advances.

3. The Portuguese Trading Empire • Portugal took the lead in European exploration • In 1420, Prince Henry the Navigator sponsored Portuguese fleets that sailed along the western coast of Africa. • Europeans called the southern coast of West Africa the Gold Coast, as gold was discovered. • In 1488, Bartholomeu Dias rounded the tip of Africa looking for a route to India.

4. The Portuguese Trading Empire • Vasco da Gama made the trip to the port of Calcutta (Calicut) in India in 1498. • He took on a cargo of spices and returned to make a profit of several thousand percent. • The route became well traveled

5. The Portuguese Trading Empire • Portuguese fleets took control of the spice trade from the Muslims by force. • In 1510, Admiral Alfonso de Albuquerque set up a Portuguese port at Goa, on the western coast of India • He then sailed on to Melaka on the Malay Peninsula. • From Melaka, the Portuguese made expeditions to China and the Moluccas (a.k.a. Spice Islands)

6. The Portuguese Trading Empire • Portuguese fleets took control of the spice trade from the Muslims by force. • In the Spice Islands they signed a treaty with a local ruler for the purchase and export of cloves to Europe. • This treaty gave Portugal control of the spice trade. Its trading empire was complete. • Portugal had neither the power, people, or desire to colonize Asian regions, however.

7. Coming to America • As the Portuguese sailed east to reach the source of the spice trade, the Spanish sailed west to find it. • Spain had more resources and people than Portugal, and it established an overseas empire quite different from Portuguese trading posts.

8. Christopher Columbus (1451-1506) • Convinced that the circumference of Earth was not as great as others thought, Italian Christopher Columbus believed he could reach Asia by sailing west.

9. Christopher Columbus (1451-1506) • Financed by Queen Isabella of Spain, in 1492 he reached and explored the coastline of Cuba and Hispaniola, believing he had reached Asia • In his four voyages he explored many Caribbean Islands and Honduras–all of which he called the Indies.

10. Coming to America • Both Spain and Portugal feared the other would claim some of its newly “discovered” territories. • They resolved the problem by agreeing on a line of demarcation dividing their new domains • In the Treaty of Tordesillas (1494), they decided on a north-to-south line through the Atlantic Ocean and the easternmost part of South America • Portugal claimed the unexplored territories east of the line, Spain to the west

11. Treaty of Tordesillas

12. Assignment: Due at the end of class must answer in paragraph formats. 5pts. Each total of 20 pts. • How did Portugal develop as a trading empire? • Would you have created the Treaty of Tordesillas with Portugal? Was the treaty a good idea? Explain • As an explorer and business woman/man who’s side would you like to be a part of the Spanish or the Portuguese? Why, explain? (must use supporting details) • Predict how current day would be different if the Age of Exploration would have never happened? Use supporting details